China confirms tycoon Guo Wengui wanted by Interpol

In earlier interviews with Mingjing News, a Chinese-language website, Guo said Fu Zhenghua, China’s executive deputy minister of public security, had abused his power in pursuing him. He also pointed the finger at the son of former anti-graft chief He Guoqiang, saying the son was a major backer of a business rival now behind bars.

Just two days before President Xi Jinping’s summit with US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago this month, The New York Times reported that Guo was a member at the resort, which Guo confirmed. The report said it might embarrass Xi if Guo showed up at the resort during the summit. Guo was in London at the time, according to his tweets.

Although the acts of bribery and taking bribes carry the same penalties under Chinese law, the authorities have so far been focused more on punishing those who accept bribes.

Among the 100 fugitives subject to red notices from Interpol’s National Central Bureau for China in 2015, only one was wanted on suspicion of paying bribes. All the others are suspected of embezzlement, fraud or receiving bribes.

China’s move to seek a red ­notice was more of a warning to him than an indication an extradition was likely, Beijing-based political commentator Zhang ­Lifan said. “It’s a way for Beijing to exert pressure on him,” Zhang said. “It’s a problematic question whether it would help in getting him back, but it might affect his travel in other countries.”